A 43-year-old elephant at the Milwaukee County Zoo is recovering after falling earlier in September, forcing animal experts to use a front-end loader to help get the mammal back on her feet.

Zoo officials said the elephant, named Ruth, lost her footing after aggressive behavior from a fellow African elephant.

Because of her age and the terrain, she was unable to get up on her own, triggering zoo staff to come up with a plan to upright the animal.

The zoo said they regularly train with the Milwaukee Fire Department’s Heavy Urban Rescue Team for scenarios involving large animals, but in this case a front-end loader was all that was needed to help right the multi-ton mammal.

Staff said after the assistance, Ruth was able to walk into the indoor habitat without the need for additional he

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